How to Reach Out to Your Elected Officials

Brianna Reynolds

Our generation is already known for taking substantial action on the issues we care about. If you see the need for change in the government on any policy, there are a few ways you can start helping make a change.

We all have issues that we’re passionate about, so use that energy to effect real political change! You can shape the world. We’ve partnered with our friends at ONE to share some of the best ways to reach out to your reps!

Be Specific and Do Some Research

It may feel satisfying to tweet out your well-formed (maybe a little sassy) opinion to the president or even your state governor. But as in most areas of life, you’ll be a lot more effective if you know the right person to talk to. Where do you start with your research? First, find your congressional representatives. You can find your representatives on GovTrack; simply enter in your home address and instantly get the contact info for your state’s senators and representatives.

Part of being ready to make change is understanding the steps that enable the change. This process depends on the progress of a bill. On GovTrack, you can track the progress of bills that pertain to the issues you’re passionate about so that you can better argue for your cause.

Be Heard… In Ways That Might Seem Old-Fashioned

In order for change to get started in government, your local reps need to hear what is on your mind. Millennials and Gen Zs may be inclined to immediately spam Twitter or Facebook pages, but local reps do not categorize these public posts as an official request. So take out that dusty stationary kit and get to writing! Handwritten letters are one way to get the attention of your local rep’s office.

However, many Congressional staff members say that dialing those digits is arguably the most effective method to have your voice heard. Your elected city, state, and national government officials all have phone numbers listed that are available to the public. When a bill is up for proposal, it is a great time to give your rep a call. You likely will get an answering machine, but leaving a voicemail where someone is able to feel the passion in your voice will help the elected official get an understanding of the sentiments for who they are representing.

These methods may seem old fashioned and (if we are being honest) a little inconvenient for living in a digital age. But these ways work because congress members and elected officials are better able to track constituent opinions and create data based on the snail mail and calls.

But, What Do I Say?

Always be specific! Political leaders are working on initiatives in countless areas of government and are incredibly busy. Although you may think it is enough to state your opinion on a political issue, often times this is way too broad to do any sort of change-making steps. By researching, you also will be able to obtain the info to cite specifically a bill, initiative, event, case, etc. that will be able to give your rep context for your message. Write down the name or docket number of the bill that you would like them to take action on.

What else could you say to your reps? Talk about your favorite advocacy organizations that are fighting for the issues you care about and ask your legislator to donate to the cause. An organization that would be great for you to mention is ONE. ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organization of more than nine million people around the world taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. They not only promote tangible causes like these, but also care about issues like student empowerment and political efficacy.

If you are passionate about getting on the front lines of advocates around the world, look into ONE’s Campus program. Although talking with your representative is a SUPER important step for political advocacy, being able to mobilize other kids on your campus and get physically involved in important issues like those ONE is tackling, is a surefire way to make change.

Now, charge your phone and get those teddy bear stamps out from the bottom of your drawer because now you have some tangible steps you can take to having a voice in what you believe in! Share these tips with your friends and family so your voice can be magnified!

MEET THE AUTHOR

Brianna Reynolds

Business student strangely obsessed with obscure documentaries and peanut butter milkshakes. Bay Area Native attempting to thrive in SoCal while at school.